[Kevin in NJ]

Having had to repair the brakes on a 39 Ford and a 65 Mustang many times I wondered how others faired in my area. The basic problem is usually one or both rear wheel cylinders with get partially or fully stuck from muck.

The problem is simple. In our area we get wide temp swings during the colder months. The temp differentials can cause the fluid to push through the seals and then suck back in with the moisture. The same process that gives you a good whiskey.

So at car shows I started asking people with juice brakes. I asked all years and makes. It was scary the number of people that have been driving their cars with moderate to significant pull when they brake. They had no intention of fixing the brakes because they only drove the car a little.

The only fix for the brake problem is either climate control or driving often. A local guy, one of the Millers that owns Carlisle, has his cars in a climate controlled room. He has never had a brake problem.

I would also like to point out that with juice brakes you still have to make sure the shoes are arched to fit the drums. It could take years to get full brake surface contact if you do not fit the shoes to the drums. You need to find someone with a brake shoe grinder.

So as much as people do not want to listen. The juice brakes are at best equal in braking and more likely to have failures that reduce the total braking. Mechanical brakes take just as much work to set up properly and are unlikely to fail if you select good original parts and certain reproduction parts.
Seems like a no brainer to stick with mechanical brakes.

FWIW we sold the 39 as it was a pain to keep on the road. My 65 convertible Mustang is driven much more often just so I do not have to do more brake work.